MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

TR parts and Triumph parts, TR bits, Triumph Car Spares and accessories are available for TR2, TR3, TR3A, TR4, TR4A, TR5, TR6, TR7, TR8, Spitfire and Stag and other TR models are available from British car spares and parts company LBCarCo.

Triumph TR3 - Chrome repair

On my TR3A there are several spots on the windscreen frame and attachments to the scuttle where the chrome has come off. Two of the spots are where the windscreen wipers overran the frame for about 30 years. The other spots are on top of the attach parts to the scuttle. The rest of the chrome is just fine and shines with a little polish. I have tried using the locally available spray chrome in a can and it is too dull and totally unacceptable. If only the spray chrome looked like the top on the spray can it would be great. What do they use on the tops of the chrome spray cans? I would guess it only works on plastic so that may not help. Sending the whole windscreen frame to a chrome place for refinishing is an option I do not want just for 4 spots where the brass? shines though. There should be some sort of electro replating kit that you can get somewhere that will put a layer of copper, silver and chrome on these small spots and not cost too much or poison the person doing the chroming. This kit could also be good to touch up overriders and other chrome parts such as handles, hinges, hub caps, and gas caps. Does anyone know of such an item?
hjr

I don't - but the triple chrome, as it is called, consists of removing all the old plating back to the base metal (in this case brass), then plating with copper, buffing it smooth, nickel plating over the copper (not silver) and then a quick very thin flash of chromium.

Don Elliott
Don Elliott

I've had limited success with "copychrome" on small parts like directionals, etc. They say it's good for filling scratches on bumpers too but it's no replacement for the real thing. Here's their link (seems to be down right now?)
http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/copychrome.htm
Peter K

I think it's just a part of the "patina" of your older car, don't worry. But if you must get it back in shape, take it to the best plater around, ask the Harley shop. Or look for a better used one.

I think it should be illegal for them to put those tops on paint cans. They know it's not gonna look like that when you use it. (I'm pretty sure it's actual plating on the plastic, might be aluminum - not chrome.)
Tom

Thanks gentlemen,
Now if I can just figure out how to put that 4 foot or so bottom frame part from the windscreen in that 4 gallon pail that "copy chrome" supplies. A narrow shallow plastic pig feed trough might do it?

If that does not work, Harleys are made in Kansas City so they may be able to direct me to a good plater. Several are listed in Kansas on the internet. May need all summer to save up money for that.

Spring is coming and I will not worry about the "patina" spots for a while.

hjr
hjr

I had all my parts re-chromed by the Harley guys here in Montreal in 1990 for $1000.00. A TR3A friend went about 1994 to the same shop and they wanted $3600.00 to do the same list of parts.

Don
Don Elliott

Actually, the Copy Chrome kit I was referring to uses a brush-like wand to apply a nickel plate on scratches (no bucket!) nfi, but it seems like what you're looking for.

PNPCC28 COPY CHROME™ PLATING KIT
This kit is ideal for repairing small damaged areas of chrome, perhaps a small scratch in a bumper, which left untended, would rust causing further damage. Buffing to remove any existing rust, then brush plating with Copy Chrome™ can prevent further rusting and almost eliminate the visibility of the scratch.
PeterK

Thanks Peter,
I did not drill down in the site far enough to find the electro plating in one step device. Looks good and will sure give it a try. The price is sure right compared to taking it to a plater.

hjr
hjr

PeterK,
Purchased and used the "Copy Chrome" kit to touch up the attachments to the scuttle. Tried it just on a spot but the edges of the spot did not blend in to the rest of the part. I then removed all the chrome on the flat surface, where the spot was, sanded and buffed it very smooth, and plated with the nickle over the entire surface with the intersection to the rest of the attachment around 90 degree corners. Used chrome polish over everything and now it looks pretty good, in fact much better than the 47 year old chrome that is on the rest of the part. Now will it also last 47 years? Thanks again.
hjr
hjr

Four years ago I had the windscreen frame triple plated on the TR2. Results were spectacular and the total cost was $250.

Problem is if only one item is done it will make the other chrome pieces look even worse. So do all pieces or none. It's a slippery slope.

Lou Metelko
Auburn, Indiana
Louis Metelko

This thread was discussed between 06/02/2006 and 21/02/2006

Triumph TR3 index